. >>> today the senate will vote on whether to move ahead with the nomination of chuck hagel to be the next secretary of defense. even if hagel gets enough votes to move forward, it's unclear if his former republican colleagues will allow an immediate confirmation vote. >>> pope benedict officially steps down on thursday. cardinals are gathering in rome to choose his successor. in one of his last acts, though, as pope, benedict changed the rules of the conclave to allow it to get started as soon as they arrive. alan pizzey reports. >> reporter: the pope seems increasingly at peace as he said his last good-byes. he leaves behind a vatican beset by troubles for the next pope and for those who will choose him. britain's most senior cleric, scott scottish cardinal keith o'brien, officially resigned and then took the unprecedented step of opting out of the conclave after he was accused of inappropriate contact with three priests dating back 30 years. o'brien disputes the accusations but said he didn't want to be the focus of media attention in rome. the news came as the pope accepted a repo